Timing apparatus



' L B. SMETH.

TIMING APPARATUS.

AFPUCATEOYL FELEB FEB. 5. 1959.

Patented Apr.. 20, 1920.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY E. B. SMETH.

TIIIiNG APPARATUS.

' APPLICATEOK mm RES. 5, 1919. 1,337,335, htemed Apr. 20, 1920.

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' being accurately 4 plate supported unirnn STATES Parana? OFFICE.

IRVING B. SMITH, 0F AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO LEEDS COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION VANIA.

& non'rniwr or PENNSYL- TIMING arrnim'rus.

Fatented 20, 1920.

Application filed February 5, 1919. Serial No. 275,122.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING B; SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ambler, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for opening or closing an electric circuit or circuits, the circuit changes being separated by a predetermined interval of time, and the apparatus affording means for procuring uniform repetition of a given time interval.

It is an object of my invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to, utilizable for calibrating chronographs, in psychological laboratories for procuring a standard time interval, and in general for any purpose where a time interval may be uniformly reproduced with great accuracy, which employs a body which falls through a predetermined distance, the time of fall determinable and constituting the measured time interval.

It is an object of my invention to provide in such apparatus me'ans for dropping the body or starting it inv its fall in a manner which shall introduce no error as to the actual time of fall; and to provide in such apparatus other features of advantage.

For an illustration of one of the forms In invention may take, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in

which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig.1, some parts shown in plan.

Fig. 4 is'a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. V Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one of many applications of my apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a upon the leveling screws 2 which are rotated by the knurledheads 3 to adjust the base 1 to a level position, a level 4, Figs. 1 and 3, serving to indicate when proper adjustment has been attained. Extending into .a vertical hole in the base base Y 1 is the vertical rod 5 secured in the base 1 by the set screw 6. i

Near the upper end of the rod 5 there is secured thereto, as by set screw 7, the member 8 towhich is secured by screws 8 the plate or support 9, which is preferably of insulating material, the plate 9 and the parts carried thereby being adjustable as to vertical position on the rod 5 by the aforementioned screw 7. Pivoted at 10 upon the plate 9 is the hammer member 11 having the hammer head 12. The entire moving hammer member 11 is dynamically balanced about the pivotal axis 10, as by counterweight 13 or any other suitable means, it being understood that other forms of hammer structure may be employed if. desired. One end of a helical spring 1 1 is secured to the hammer member 11 and the other end to a fixed abutment, as 15. With the member 11 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the spring 14 is under tension and is prevented from rotating thehammer member 11 by the catch or trigger 16 engaged by the catch or trigger 16 on the trigger lever 17 pivoted to the plate 9 at 18.

Pivoted to the plate 9 at 19 is the horizontally extending lever 20 held in the horizontal position by the spring 21 engaging a heel on the lever 20, the tension of the 7 bracket 26 which supports the contact 23.

At its outer end lever 20 is provided with the stud or contact 27 disposed in the path of travel of the head 12 of the-hammer element, with which latter electrical connection is made through the binding post 127. At suitable distance along the lever 20 there extends vertically therethrougha hole 28 whose upper end is slightly countersunk to form a slight depression in which is adapted to rest the steel or other ball 29.

Secured to the plate 9 is a spring 30 inclined with respect to the plate 9, the inclined surface being engaged upon counterclockwise rotation of lever 20, later to be described, which finally engages the out-- turned end 31 of the spring 30, which limits the rotative movement of lever 20, the lever being retained in such final position by frictional engagement of the spring 30.

A friction producing spring 32 is secured to the plate 9 and is adapted to be engaged. by and stop the hammer 11.

On the base 1 and insulated therefrom is the bracket 33 in which there is pivoted at 34 the horizontally extending lever 35 carrying in vertical alinement below the ball 29 the stud or contact 36 threaded through the lever 35 and locked in any desired position by the nut 37. Electrical connection is made with the lever 35 and contact 36 through binding post 38, which is in electrical communication with the bracket 33. Secured to the bracket 33 as by screws 39 is the conducting member 40 suitably insulated from the bracket 33, but in electrical communication with the binding post 41. Carried by and inlelectrical communication with the member 40 is the delicate and easily flexed wire 42 of phosphor bronze or other suitable material extending close to the contact 36 in the path of travel of the ball 29.

On the base. 1 is a post 43 on which is carried the plate or contact 44, insulated from the post 43, and electrically connected to the binding post 45. The post 45 may carry the ring or otherwise shaped guard 46 disposed above the level 4 to protect the same from the falling ball or other objects.

Beneath the lever 35 the base 1 is provided with a receptacle or pocket 47 for receiving the ball 29 at the completion of its fall- The mode of operation is as follows:

With the parts in position indicated in Fig. 1, the apparatus is ready for dropping the ball 29 upon clockwise movement of the tripping lever 17 which will cause release of the hammer member 11, which is then rapidly rotated in clockwise direction, the hammer head or end 12 striking upon the stud or contact 27, causing very rapid rota tion of lever 20 upon its pivot 19 in a counterclock'wise direction, the lever 20 moving so rapidly from beneath the ball 29 as to withdraw from the path of the ball in advance of its fall.

After the hammer member 11 has so dclivered a blow to the lever 20, it continues substantially a further quarter revolutiop and frictionally engages the side of the spring 32, which brings it gradually to rest. And similarly the lever 20 brought to rest by engagement with the spring 30, and

itsmovement finaily limiter-l by the hook end 31 of spring 39.

Unless the hamni-er element 11 is carefully balanced with respect to the pivotal axis 10, in its sudden and rapid rotative movement upon release by lever 17 centrifugal or other forces may cause a pressure suddenly applied to the pivot 10 which will jar the plate 9 and cause a slight upward jump or other vmovement of the ball 29, which will introduce an error in the time period of fall of the ball, which is calculated on the assumption that it starts from the position shown in Fig. l and falls only under the influence of gravity.

Furthermore, it is of importance properly to locate the ball 29 along the lever 20. The blow struck by the hammer upon the stud 27 sets the lever'20 into longitudinal vibration, a ventral point or anti-node of vibration being at or near the stud 27, and one or more nodes between the point 27 and the pivot 19. It is important that the location of the seat for ball 29 be at or very close to a node; otherwise the ball will slightly jump, due to vibration of the lever 20, and so again introduce an error as to time period, the ball rising slightly before falling from the ideal or desired starting position indi cated in the drawing.

By engagement of the stud 27 by the hammer head 12 an electrical connection is made between the binding posts 127 and 24 to close an electric circuit at the instant of start of fall of the ball 29. Or if binding posts 24- and 25 be employed, a break of an electric circuit due to separation of stop 22 from contact 23, is effected at the instant of start of fall of ball 29. Either or both of these circuit arrangements may be employed, as circumstances may render desirable.

After actuation of the lever 20 by ham-- mer 11 as above described, the ball 29 falls and finally engages the delicate or easily yielding contact 42, carrying the same into engagement with the stud 36, thereby closing a circuit including binding posts 38 and 41, at a perfectly definite period of time after start of fall of ball 29 from its position indicated-in Fig. 1.

Or when binding posts 38 mm 45 are em plcyed, a circuit may be interrupted by separation of contact lever 35 "from contact 34 a perfectly definite period of time after start of fall of ball 29. Or both sets of contacts may be employed to effect both a closure and opening of a circuit at the end of fall of the ball.

The ball after performing the function described, drops into the pocket or receptacle 47, in which it may be kept until again placed upon the reset lever 20.

By a straight wire or other measuring gage resting upon the stud 36, or upon the wire 42 when in engagement with stud 36, extending upwardly through the hole 28 in lever 20 to engagement with the ball 29, the distance the ball 29 drops is determined, or

the distance which it shall drop may be determined by such gage. The distance or length of drop, being so accurately known, the time of the fall is readily calculated.

Accordingly we havebythe apparatus described ameans for giving, repeatedly if desired, with great uniformity, a perfectly definite time-period utilizable for any suit able purpose. j 4

By the apparatus described a circuit may be opened, and a perfectly definite known Y time thereafter another circuit 'may be opened or closed; or a circuit may be closed, and a perfectly definite known time thereafter another circuit may be closed or opened.

For an illustration of one of the numerous applications ,of my invention reference may be had to Fig. 5, wherein is shown chronograph apparatus for timing the flight of projectiles.

Conductors 48' and 49 supply direct current of any suitable voltage at substantially constant potential. By closing the switch 50 the series electric motor M is energized,

V the same being suitably regulated as to speed by the governor G, which may be of the general character disclosed in U. S. Patent No.

1,057,436, or of any other suitable character. In any event, the speedof the motor M 'is governed with great nicety sothat its variation from a. predetermined speed is very small, and within the limits desirable or suitable for chronographs. With the motor and governor are associated the resistances 51 and 52. v D v Driven by the motor M at uniform speed is .the metallic drum 53 on whose inner cylindrical surface is disposed the sheet of paperor other suitable material 54, which because'of the centrifugal action due to the speed closely hugs the inner cylindrical surface of the drum 53 without use of fastening means. Disposed close to the paper 54, but spaced by gaps from -the inner surface of the drum 53, are the spark points or terminals 55, 56 and 57 connected, respectively, with terminals of the difierent high tension induction coil or transformer secondaries 58,. whose other terminals are. grounded upon the frame of motor M and therefore in electrical connectionwith the metallic drum Associated with each secondary 58 is a primary 59. v

By closing the switch 60 the conductors 61 and 62 are thrown into communication with the supply conductors 48 and 49. This will cause the charging of condensers 63 through the resistances 64' and 65 and of the condensers 66 through the resistances'64,'primaries59, and resistances 65. This charging is so, slow that the potential of the secondaries is not suflicient to cause sparking at the terminals'55, 56 and '57.

Screens 67, disposed at any suitable dis tance from each other, are adapted to bebridged by it, thereby bringing into electri cal communication thepairs of conductors 69, 70. The screens being so pierced and bridged, causes, at intervals of time corresponding to the intervals required by the flight of the projectile from one screen to another, discharge of the condensers at like intervals of time through the primaries 59, causing sparks at like intervalsbetween the points 57, 56 and 55 and the drum 53, the sparks perforating the paper 54 and so giving marks thereon whose distances apart, measured circumferentially of the drum 53, with a known speed of rotation of that drum, afiord means for calculating the time of flight of projectile from onescreen to the next.

It is required, however, from time to time to calibrate or test the apparatus to deter mine just what length-of time is representedwith theprimary 59 of the induction coil at the right are connected, respectively, the

conductors 71 and 72 connecting, respectively, with the-lever 20 and hammer 11 'of my fall apparatus. Similarly there are connected with the'conductors-69 and70 associated with the primary 59 of the middle induction coil the conductors 73 and 74 connecting, respectively, through binding posts 41 and 38 with the wire 42 and contact stud 36 of my fall apparatus.

Upon tripping the apparatus by actuation of trip lever 17 a circuit is first closed by engagement of hammer 11 with contact stud 27. This will cause a. high potential impulse from the secondary 58 of the induction coil on the right, which will cause a spark at the terminal 57, perforating the paper 54 at the instant corresponding with the start of fall of the ball 29. Vlfhen the ball causes closure of circuit between wire 42 and stud 36 there is a high potential impulse produced by the secondary 58 of the middle induction coil, causing a spark from a ing with the known time of fall of ball 29.

The distance between the two spark holes in the paper 54 then represents a known time,

that of an of the ball 29. And this known distanceaflordsa means of computing the time represented by the distance between the spark holes in the paper 54 when later used in measuring flight of projectiles.

It will accordingly e understood that V my apparatus serves as means for calibrating a chronograph or for any other purposewhere it is desired to cause changes, as in an electric circuit or circuits, separated by a known and definite time interval.

What I claim is:

' 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same in starting position, and a hammer for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member.

2. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same in starting position, means for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member, and cooperating contacts changing the condition of a circuit at the instant said second named member is struck.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same in starting position, means' for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member, and cooperating contactscontrolled by said'first named member to change the condition of a circuit after descent of said first named member through a )redetermined distance.

4. In apparatus 0 the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity,

of a .member for supporting the samein 7'; In apparatus'of the character described,

starting position, means for striking said second named member from' the path of descent of said first named member, said first named member supported at a nodal point on said second named member as regards vibration of said second named member caused by impact by said means.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a pivoted lever for supporting the same in starting position, means for striking said lever from the path of descent of said member, said member supported at a nodal point on said lever as regards vibration of said lever, caused by impact by said means.

6. .In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same instarting position, means for striking said second named member from the path of de scent of said first named member comprising a hammer structure, and means for restraining the same against actuation.

the combination With a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity,, of I l "vertically extending member the path of descent of said 'first named member comprising a rotary hammer member, said hammer member balanced about its axis of rotation.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same in starting position, and means for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member comprising a rotary hammer member, said hammer member dynamically balanced.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend underthe influence of gravity, of a member for supporting the same in starting position, and means for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member comprising a rotary hammer member, said hammer membeie balanced about its axis of rotation, said first named member supported at a nodal point on said second named member as regards vibration of said second named member caused by said hamadapted to descend'under the influence of gravity, a pivoted lever for supporting the same in starting position, and a dynamically balanced'rotary hammer member for striking said lever from the path of said first named member, said first named member supported on said lever at a nodal point between the point of impact on said lever and the pivot of said lever.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a base, of a supported thereby, a ball, a member carried by said vertical member for supporting said ball in starting position, means carried by said member for striking said supporting member from beneath said ball, a circuit controlling contact movable with said supportpath of descent of said member, and electrivertically extending member supported. thereby, a support -arried by said member at a distance above said base. a ball, a member carried by said support for supporting said ball in starting position, a circuit con trolling'c'ontact actuated when said ball is released, a circuit controlling contact adjacent said base actuated by said ball after descent through a predetermined distance, and a receptacle on said base for receiving the ball.

14. The combination with a base, of a vertically extending member supported thereby, a support carried by said member at a distance above said base, a ball, a member carried by said support for supporting said ball in starting position, a circuit con- .trolling contact actuated when said ball is released, a circuit controlling contact adja cent said base actuated by said ball after descent through a predetermined distance, and means for leveling said base.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a pivoted lever for holding said member. in starting, position, a stop against which'said lever is held to determine said .starting position, and a hammer member for striking said lever from the path of descent of said member. s

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a pivoted lever for holding said member in starting position, a stop against which said lever isheld todetermine said starting position, and a hammer member for striking said lever from the. path of descent of said member, said stop making electrical contact with said lever whereby actuation of the latter by said hammer member opens an electric circuit.

17 In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a pivoted lever for holding said member in starting position, a stop against which said lever is held to determine said starting position, a hammer member. for strikin said lever from the path of descent of said member, and electrical connections to said hammer member and to said lever,

.whereby when said hammer strikes said lever. a circuit is closed.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, of a pivoted lever for supporting said member in starting position, a hammer member for striking said lever from. the

cal connections to said hammer member and said lever, whereby a circuit 1s closed when sald hammer member strikes sald lever.

20.111 apparatus of the character described, the combination with a member adapted to fall under the influence of grav-.

ity, a horizontally extending pivoted lever supporting said member in starting position, a hammer member rotatable in a vertical plane for striking said lever from the path of fall of said member, means for actuating said hammer member, and means for releasing said hammer member.

, 21. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a substantially horizontal pivoted lever, of a slight depression in the upper-surface of said lever, a ball adapted to re'st in'said depression, and a hammer for striking said lever from the path of said ball.

22. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with a substantially horizontal pivoted lever, of a vertical hole therethrough, a ball adapted to rest on said lever at the upper end of said hole, and means for striking said lever from beneath said ball.

23. In apparatus of the character deadapted to descend under the influence of gravity, a member supporting the same, means for moving said second named member from the path of said first named member, and means cooperating with said second named member for opening an electric circuit when said member is moved.

2%. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, means for supporting said member, means for releasing said supportin means, and means cooperating with said supporting means and said releasing means for closing an electric circuit.

25. In apparatus. of the character described, the combination of a member adapted to descend under the influence of 26. In apparatus-of the character de-' scribed the combination of a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, means for supporting said member, means for releasing said supporting means, and means operated by the descent of said member for opening one electric circuit and closing another electric circuit simultaneously.

27. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, a member for supporting the same, a hammer member for striking said second named member from the path of descent of said first named member, and means for arresting the motion of said hammer after striking said second named member.

28.1n apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, a pivoted lever for supporting said member, means for striking said lever from the path of descent of said memberpand means for arresting said lever out of said scribed, the combination of a member,

adapted to descend under the influence of gravity, means for supporting said member, means for releasing said member, cooperating contacts cl'iangingr the condition of an electric circuit the instant said member is released, and contacts operated. by the descent of said member through a predetermined distance changingthe condition of an electric circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 31 day of January, 1919.

IRVING B. SMITH. 

